Page 22 of A Sinner's Truth

The waitress comes over with our order. I can’t eat. I’ve lost my appetite. “So where do you live?” Aria asks as soon as the woman walks away again.

“Toorak.” I leave out the part that it’s my brother’s house. Vin and I are both still there, while Marcel and Gabe have flown the nest and gotten places of their own. Which I’m going to have to think about doing as well. Because as much as we can fake this whole marriage thing, it’d be a hell of a lot easier without an audience.

Aria rolls her eyes. “Of course you live in Toorak.”

“What’s wrong with Toorak?”

“Nothing. I grew up there. It’s just… over-the-top, flashy wealth.” She lifts one shoulder.

“Eat. We can stop by your apartment so you can pack a bag,” I tell her.

“I can’t come with you today. I have things to do. Besides, no one knows we’re married yet,” she says.

I look at my watch. I couldn’t have timed the blaring of both of our phones better myself. I might have put out a social media blast announcing my nuptials. I needed to get the word out and figured what better way than to do it all at once?

“You might want to answer it,” I tell Aria while pressing connect on my own call as I push up from the table. “I’ll be back. Don’t move.” I know Gio’s about to give me an ass chewing and I don’t need her to hear it and get scared off. Especially now that she’s moving in with us. “What’s up, bro?” I ask, bringing the phone to my ear.

“What’s up?What’s up?” he repeats. “What the fuck is this, Santo? You got married? What the fuck did you do?” my big brother yells down the line.

“I met someone. We hit it off and decided to tie the knot.” I keep my voice calm, nonchalant.

“You just went off and got married? To Aria fucking Swan. Why?” he asks. “What are you up to?”

“Is it so hard for you to believe that I…” My throat goes dry.Fuck.“That I met someone I like and wanted to marry her?”

“You met someone you like? You don’t marry a woman youlike,Santo. You marry someone you love,” he says.

“Yeah, I tried to do that once and it didn’t work out too fucking well, now did it? I’m bringing Aria home today. I don’t want anyone treating her like she’s not welcome,” I tell him.

“You’re serious?” he balks.

“Yes. She’s my wife. You can either respect that or we’ll find somewhere else to live.”

Gio has this irrational fear of us all moving out. He’s a control freak and hates not being able to see all the pieces on his board. He also just loves family, which is why I know he’ll treat Aria with respect.

“Fine, bring my new sister home, but don’t think for a minute I’m buying your bullshit, Santo. Whatever you’re up to, I want to know.” Gio cuts the call and I walk back inside.

Aria glares at me as I reclaim my seat across from her. She’s still on the phone, but she looks pissed. Guess she’s not happy about the announcement either.

“Drew, it’s fine. I have it under control,” she says into the phone.

“You married a stranger, Aria! What the fuck were you thinking? You don’t know this guy! Are you fucking nuts?” The voice belonging to someone quickly climbing up my shit list is screaming through the phone’s speaker.

Reaching over, I snatch the phone out of Aria’s hand before she can respond. “Drew, is it?” I ask.

“Who the fuck is this? Put Aria back on,” he spits out.

“I’ll put her back on, only because she seems fond of you. But if I hear you raise your voice at my wife or speak to herwith anything but respect again, I’ll rip your tongue out of your mouth before shoving it up your fucking ass. This is your only warning,Drew.” My expression is eerily calm as I press Aria’s phone into her palm and wrap her fingers around the base, while she continues to stare at me with wide eyes and a gaping jaw.

“Drew, I’ll call you later. I’m a little busy. I’m sorry,” she says before hanging up on him and turning to me. “What the hell did you do?”

“I’m not going to sit by and let anyone disrespect you, Aria. You’re a De Bellis now. No one talks to a De Bellis the way he was talking to you,” I explain matter-of-factly.

“He’s my best friend, my only friend. You can’t threaten him like that,” she tells me.

“It wasn’t a threat, darling. I’m more than prepared to deliver on thatpromise.” I smirk at her.

“You put out a social media blast? You didn’t think to maybe give me a heads up or—I don’t know—discuss it with me first?” Aria is fuming. It’s adorable how she’s trying to rein in her anger and not lose her shit on me. I wonder what it’d take to tip her over that edge.

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